A search for the first Ginoong Cebu

CEBU, Philippines —  After recently crowning a new Binibining Cebu, it’s still pageant-hectic in our southern province with two upcoming international beauty tilts to be held here in December and the ongoing Miss Lapu-Lapu search. Add in to the fray the first edition of Ginoong Cebu 2018 – a province-wide search for the next Cebuano ambassador.

Presented by Lariosa Tulong Foundation, Ginoong Cebu gathered more than 70 Cebuanos during the screening. Organized for the benefit of the foundation’s scholars and beneficiaries which include Cebu City Medical Center patients, street children and students, the male pageant hopes to call people to action.

During the presentation of candidates at J Centre Mall, 31 candidates faced the crowd, representing cities and municipalities throughout the province of Cebu.

The candidates are: 22-year-old Cebu City Arnis team member Andro Rey Piencenaves for Alcoy; Paul Leonard Amparo Belame, a registered electrical engineer for Argao; Delio Roco Duha, a civil engineering major from the Cebu Institute of Technology University for Asturias; 26-year-old airline management graduate Ram Termulo for Badian; Ronald Earl John Vasquez, a 22-year-old tourism management graduate for Balamban; Kent Jeyluck Borbon, a 22-year-old graduating civil engineering student for Barili; Ross Kyle Divinagracia, a 20-year-old hotel and restaurant management student for Bogo; HRM graduate and fitness enthusiast Jefferson Regner Egot for Carcar City; 20-year-old junior hotelier Alexis Marc Malagar for Carmen; and Jared Sala, a 20-year-old seafarer and graduating student from the University of Cebu-Maritime Education and Training Center for Catmon.

Also in the roster are 27-year-old registered nurse and beach lover Mark Guerra for Cebu City; 20-year-old basketball player Edbert Kenn B. Duhaylungsod for Compostela; 20-year-old sales representative and model Marc Francis Canin for Cordova; 18-year-old Grade 12 student and model Vengue James Gomez Trozo for Dalaguete; Don Aaron Inocian, a registered nurse and graduating law student for Lapu-Lapu City; Dexter Almendras Tundag, a 20-year-old accountancy student for Liloan; 20-year-old hospital management major in food and beverage student Mikhail Ryan Godornes for Lutopan, Toledo City; 23-year-old model and registered nutritionist-dietitian, currently taking up veterinary medicine Junichi Yabushita for Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City; Renee Manatad, 18 year-old STEM student for Mandaue City; and licensed civil engineer Kim Joshua Canned for Minglanilla.

Completing the list are Genrov Paquera Rabusa, an avid traveler and a hospitality management graduate for Moalboal; 25-year-old IT profession associate, Jacob Zaragosa for Naga City; 20-year-old Accountancy student Jack Leonard Alonan for Oslob; Christian Palawkl, a 25-year-old barista for Pinamungajan; 25-year-old Sports Educator 1, junior high teacher, part time college instructor, dancer, choreographer and freelance model Dominic Mina for San Fernando; 19-year-old hospitality management student Kim Charlemagne Oracion for San Remegio; 24-year-old outdoor enthusiast and scuba diver Kevin Ceth Bustamante for Sibonga; Jezer Gerarman Vidal, a 22-year-old runway and body shoot model for Tabuelan; 21-year-old flag football, workout, and adventure lover Dante Cajegas for Talisay City; 21-year-old Tourism Management graduate, dance choreographer, events singer and musician, Cesar Austria for Toledo City; and 26-year-old marine engineering graduate, singer, dancer, and freelance model, Alfred Natividad for Tuburan.

Ginoong Lapu-Lapu Mactan Junichi Yabushita said that Ginoong Cebu should not be defined by physical appearance, but by his responsibility and resilience.

“Someone who inspires people, an image of hope. Especially with what is happening in Cebu, with the crimes and calamities. He should be an image of resilience. When people see him and his resilience, there will be hope and when there is hope the people will be united to stand up,” Yabushita said.

Ginoong Cebu City Mark Guerra said that Ginoong Cebu should be a good leader. If he should win, he will become the “voice of the voiceless.”

The guys also shared their thoughts about the pressures that a gentleman faces even in a world that’s described as a place run by men. Liloan bet Dexter Almendras and Alcoy representative Andro Rey Piencenaves quipped that they are pressured to finish their studies and provide for their family. Kent Jeyluck Borbon of Barili, Jack Leonard Alonan of Oslob, and Ross Kyle Divinagracia of Bogo received comments saying they weren’t handsome and smart enough and thus will never win.  Bogo’s Ross Kyle Divinagracia defended male pageantry, saying it isn’t only for face value and that society should let other people do what they love.

Among the pressures are also being teased by onlookers about being gay. While they don’t necessarily take offense, they said they’d rather not have their sexuality questioned.

“They judge us that we may not be real men. I do my best and show what I have. In that case, we multi-task and we work hard. All of us are real men,” Marc Francis Canin of Cordova said.

“Let’s not make sexuality a disability,” Junichi Yabushita of Mactan said. “We have been longing for equality. Acceptance is a very great power, and when we use it, it doesn’t only open doors for equality but also unity.”

Pageant chairman and founder of Lariosa Tulong Foundation, Gerald Lariosa, said that while some cities and municipalities aren’t represented in the competition, Ginoong Cebu wants to showcase the different talents all over the province as well as promote the towns and cities through the competition.

Their main objective, however, is to raise funds for the beneficiaries, which the winners are expected to participate in. Lariosa said they decided to put up a beauty competition for a cause because it can reach pageant fans who are strong by the numbers.

“This one is totally different because we are really aiming to help the children. Their job is not just to showcase their face, body and fame. For four years, we’ve been helping people and we want to continue this,” said Lariosa, who has more than 200 scholars under the foundation.

The Ginoong Cebu winner will receive P30,000, while the four runners -up will take home P25,000, P20,000, P15,000 and P10,000. Awards for best in talent and swimwear, online vote standing and photo will also be given away. Lariosa hinted that the cash prizes might increase and that they will do their best to send the winners to Manila for national pageants.

A set of activities have been laid out to further witness the candidates’ abilities, including a pre-pageant event on November 16 and a closed-door interview on December 9.

The Ginoong Cebu 2018 coronation night will be held Dec. 15 at the Cebu Coliseum.